Interpreting Scripture - The Letter to the Hebrews
Explore a 48-minute lecture from Yale University's "Introduction to New Testament" course focusing on interpreting scripture, particularly the Letter to the Hebrews. Delve into various methods of textual interpretation, including ancient approaches that may seem unusual to modern readers. Examine how early Christians interpreted the Hebrew Bible and how the New Testament exemplifies these interpretative techniques. Analyze the structure and argument of the Letter to the Hebrews, which posits the superiority of Jesus' liturgy and priesthood over that in the Hebrew Bible. Discover how the author of Hebrews uses interesting interpretations of Hebrew Bible passages to support this thesis. Learn about the epistle's outline and its use of synkrisis, a comparative technique contrasting superior and inferior elements. Access complete course materials on the Open Yale Courses website for this Spring 2009 recording.